£10bn of health spending does little for under-fives

Government policies and programmes over the past decade have failed to bridge the gap between the poor and well-off, according to the Audit Commission study published today.

While some aspects have got better, including a fall in the number of babies dying, other results are "disappointing".

The report – Giving Children a Healthy Start – says an estimated

10.9bn has been spent, directly or indirectly, on improving the health of under-fives in England since 1998.

Of this, 7.2bn went on Sure Start, a programme to improve services for young children.

It includes children's centres, maternity grants to cover essentials and family lessons on areas such as health and nutrition.

Today's report said such investments have "not produced widespread improvements in health outcomes".

It goes on: "Some health indicators have indeed worsened – for example, obesity and dental health – and the health inequalities gap between rich and poor has barely changed.

"Children under five years living in deprived areas are eight per cent more likely to be obese; nine per cent more likely to be of a low birth weight; and 12 per cent more likely to have an accident than those living in the rest of England."

Childhood obesity rose from 10.1 per cent to 13.9 per cent between 1995 and 2008, although the rate of growth may now be slowing

Infant death rates have fallen from 5.6 to 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births but the figure is "still relatively high" compared with other European countries.

The average five-year-old in 2005/06 had 1.47 decayed, missing and filled teeth, compared with 1.43 in 1999/00.

A youngster in a deprived area is 19 per cent more likely to have bad teeth than the average child.

Summing up, the study said that between 1999 and 2008 "health outcomes for the under-fives, on the whole, have only marginally changed".

Steve Bundred, chief executive of the Audit Commission, added: "It's encouraging to see some improvement in the health of babies and young children, but the under-fives rarely seem a priority locally.

"Overall, the findings are disappointing. Children need a healthier start in life and policies are not delivering commensurate improvement and value for money."